Sunday 08 / February / 2026
MUSCAT: With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 already underway in India and Sri Lanka, all eyes turn to Oman on Monday as the Jatinder Singh-led team walk into their opening match against Zimbabwe carrying momentum rather than nerves.
Nearly two weeks in Colombo, purposeful acclimatisation, and back-to-back wins in official warm-up games over Sri Lanka A and Zimbabwe have given the Men in Red a rare swagger.
For Oman, this isn’t just a tournament opener, it’s an early chance to announce intent on cricket’s biggest T20 stage.
The clash at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club, starting at 1:30 pm Oman time (3pm, local time), offers Oman a shot at momentum in a tough Group B, which also features hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland, and heavyweights Australia.
The stage is set, the squad is ready, and the build-up has left them confident, and fearless with a sharpened belief within Duleep Mendis’s camp.
Preparation pays off
Oman’s preparations for this World Cup have been meticulous. Departing Muscat on 22 January, the team opted to beat Sri Lankan heat and humidity by settling early into Colombo life and engaging in targeted practice matches. That planning has already yielded two valuable wins in official ICC warm-up games and tough outings against Canada and the USA.
For Oman’s captain, Jatinder Singh, the build-up has been about more than just run scoring. Having recovered from an injury during the early days of the camp in Sri Lanka, he slammed a half-century in the warm-up win over Zimbabwe and is happy that his ‘players are in a good space and confident’.
With an aim to play and display fearless cricket against higher-ranked opponents, Jatinder said: “We are in a group which is the toughest for an Associate team, but we believe we have to play fearless and positive cricket. That is what we are going to showcase in Sri Lanka.”
Speaking on the eve of the Zimbabwe opener from Colombo, Oman’s all-time leading T20I run scorer said: “The plans put in by Oman Cricket board to bring the team early and acclimatise to the wickets and weather conditions have really done a lot of good to us. We tried out various combinations and had a good test of playing conditions here on different types of wickets. The players are in a good space and confident lot after two successive wins in the official warm-ups.”
He stressed that the blend of seasoned campaigners and 11 World Cup debutants give the squad a balanced outlook heading into their fourth appearance on cricket’s biggest T20 stage.
“Overall, we have had near perfect preparations, and we go into the World Cup with confidence and hope to leave an impact as an Associate nation,” said Jatinder.
The Mendis effect
At the helm of Oman’s cricketing journey over the past decade is coach Duleep Mendis, the former Sri Lankan great whose tenure has coincided with Oman’s rise from an obscure ranking to consistent World Cup qualification since 2016.
Mendis has emphasised performance over participation. “This World Cup, it is time for Oman to make their presence felt. It is time for us to get some positive results,” he said.
That intent drives every training session and tactical discussion in Colombo, with Sulakshan Kulkarni, deputy head coach from India, providing key inputs.
The Sri Lankan conditions, dry tracks and spin-friendly surfaces, may play to Oman’s strengths, particularly their variety of slow bowlers and clever spin operators.
Oman at T20 World Cup
Oman’s T20 World Cup history has been modest but memorable. Across three previous editions, the side has recorded just two victories, including a famous upset over Test-playing Ireland in 2016 and a spirited win against Papua New Guinea in 2021. Mendis’ men are now featuring in their second successive global showpiece, having competed in the 2024 edition, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies.
But this edition feels different. The recent form in warm-ups, and fearless intent has generated quiet confidence within the squad, one that could translate into performances capable of surprising more established teams.
Zimbabwe: Experience meets opportunity
Zimbabwe enter this opener with their own history and ambitions. A full Test-playing nation with multiple T20 World Cup campaigns under their belt, the African side feature experienced performers such as Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Tadiwanashe Marumani, backed by capable bowling threats across formats.
While Oman beat Zimbabwe in a warm-up, the stakes on Monday are higher, giving both sides a chance to assert early control of their World Cup narrative.
Oman squad: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla (vc & wk), Aamir Kaleem, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Faisal Shah, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Shafiq Jan, Jay Odedra, Jiten Ramanandi, Ashish Odedara.
